jaeyong ✧ skindeep

Twenty-eight

Jaehyun removed the clip from the wrap around his ankle, unwrapping it from around his foot and his knee wrap following suit. He rolled the compression wrap up before placing it on the counter.

He walked for few steps, making sure he'd be okay to play in the semi-finals. Around the same time, Taeyong came out of the bathroom, his hair styled to the side rather than resting. Jaehyun instantaneously smiled at the latter, his arms traveling around Taeyong's torso and resting his chin on Taeyong's shoulder.

Jaehyun's hands met in front of Taeyong's core, his hot breath tickling the latter's neck,"You're coming tonight, right?"

"Semi-finals? Yeah. Your ankle is okay though?"

"Yeah, it's fine."

Although Taeyong wanted to say something about Jaehyun playing tonight, he kept his mouth shut just because he liked the smile painted on Jaehyun's face.

"Ah, okay. What time does the game start?"

"Eight, the coach wants us to get there earlier though for warm-ups though."

Jaehyun came up behind Taeyong, his arms hanging over the latter's shoulders and his breath steady on his shoulder,"You okay?"

Taeyong shifted under his arms,"Yeah, I'm fine. We should leave in a little bit, shouldn't we? Didn't they change the building where the game is being held?"

Jaehyun hummed in acknowledgment and agreement, heading upstairs to retrieve his duffle back. Afterwards, he grabbed his car keys from the marble counter and both males left the house.

~~~~

After a twenty minute drive, they arrived at the court. Jaehyun grabbed his duffel from the back seat before exiting out of the driver's door. His eyes met Taeyong with a smile on his face, the latter responded with a sheepish grin after his eyes drifted back from the enlarged building.

Jaehyun walked to the other side of the car, his hand reaching for Taeyong's. He interlocked their fingers before bringing up his hand to plant a kiss on it. Surely, it made Taeyong blush but, he forced the brunette's grasp out of his,"Jaehyun, we're in public."

"We held hands during the road trip."

"Yes, but no one knew who you were there. Here, you have your teammates, coach and probably those girls who are always trying to talk to you."

"So?"

"Your reputa-"

"Taeyong, I already told you several times. I don't care about my repution," He stopped for a second before beginning again,"I'd rather be ignored by everyone and be able to hold your hand than act like I don't know you just for some compliments from some girl whose name I don't know."

The conversation turned to silence after that, both of the men continuing to walk to the court. Once they made it inside, they split; Taeyong walking up and finding an area to sit on the bleachers while Jaehyun went to the bench and shortly conversed with his coach.

Taeyong sat next to Johnny, who was already there due to Ten. The tall male soon noticed Taeyong's sullen expression,"You okay?"

Taeyong shook his body in surprise,"Yeah. Um, where's everyone else?"

Johnny clicked his phone, quickly checking the time,"Doyoung said he was picking up Mark and Hyuck about ten minutes ago so, they should be here soon."

Taeyong just slightly nodded back, his eyes drifting to Jaehyun who was stretching on the court.

"Uh, Johnny?"

"Yeah?"

"Does the school know about you and Ten or do you guys try to hide it?"

Johnny ran his hand over his nape,"I mean, we don't go around flaunting that I'm dating the cutest boy in school but, we don't really try to hide it either. It's like, if they find out, they find out."

Taeyong slightly nodded, oncoming thoughts interrupted by the sound of Doyoung, Mark and Donghyuck's appearing voice and footsteps up the bleachers.

Doyoung sat down beside Taeyong,"When does the game start?"

Johnny checked the time on his phone once again,"In about fifteen minutes."

Taeyong's eyes remained fixated on Jaehyun who was now doing layup drills. The team continued doing warm-ups as the opposite team began doing their own, their blue uniforms opposing the orange ones worn by Jaehyun's team.

The court quickly shifted from quiet to overbearing with sound as other people began to arrive and the sound of dribbling basketballs and shoes squeaking against the court floor filled.

Shortly after, the buzzer sounded. Both teams lined facing each other at the half court line. The referee shortly conversed with both teams before backing up. Every player shifted into their position, the referee then blowing the whistle that hung around his neck and throwing the ball up in the air.

Jaehyun jumped up, his finger touching the edge of the ball before securing it into his grip and passing it to the #6 behind him.

~~~~

The buzzer sounded throughout the court, signalling the end of the third quarter. Jaehyun and Ten high-fived before walking back to the bench, beads of sweat running down both their faces.

Ten drank from his frigid water bottle, rapid pants coming out of his mouth. Jaehyun wiped the sweat of his cheeks with the edge of the his uniform. He looked at his teammates,"Fourth quarter, we got it, alright?"

Ten patted Jaehyun on his back, a smile painted on his face. The buzzer sounded, leaving the players heading back to the center of the court.

The fourth quarter felt especially quick, both teams closing the gap then one side quickly opening it again. Taeyong didn't pay much attention, let alone understand much of what was going. Although, his attention was quickly grabbed when the coach's whistle abruptly blew and he noticed Jaehyun on the court floor, one hand clutching his ankle in pain as Ten stood beside him.

Ten dumbly asked in a worried tone,"Jaehyun, are you okay?"

The brunette forced smile through his gritted teeth,"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's finish the game."

He attempted to stand up only to fall back to the court floor in seconds. The coach came over, his hands signaling someone in the background to bring a stretcher. Jaehyun looked at the hand signal,"Wait, coach, I'm fine-"

"You can't even stand up, Jaehyun. You're not finishing the game."

Jaehyun gritted his teeth before his eyes drifted to Taeyong in the bleachers, his hands nervously set over his chest or mouth.

The stretcher was brought over and Jaehyun put on and carried out on it, before leaving, he slapped Ten's palm,"Win the game for me, okay?"

Ten nodded in response, heading back over to the bench. Leaving Johnny, Mark and Donghyuck, both Doyoung and Taeyong rushed down the bleachers, speedily walking and following Jaehyun.

For a minute, the thought and blame was thrown on Taeyong by himself. He wished he told Jaehyun not to play. But he didn't.

~~~~